T61 issues resolved?

Hi all - Curious as to the general consensus around the forums about the issues I've read about with the T61. Mine should be arriving tomorrow (pending release from customs ), and I'd like to be ready to make any changes / updates necessary. A couple specific questions:

1) I plan on wiping and doing a clean install of Vista Ultimate x64 - any known issues with this approach? (Machine will come with Basic pre-loaded)
2) Is there a fix for BSOD issues that seem to be related to Intel TurboMemory that I should install right away?

Here are the key specs:
Intel 7300 (2.0 GHz)
15.4 WSXGA+
2GB memory
Integrated graphics (don't laugh - battery life is more important to me!)
60GB 7200 RPM
Intel TurboMemory

Thanks all for your tips!

 

1) There is a clean install guide on these forums if you check the first few pages you should be able to find it. I haven't done it yet but plan to when I have the chance. Its very well explained and should contain all the info you need to do a clean install.

 

Awesome thanks Bradd!! Apologies, should have looked a bit harder

 

Hey my pleasure. Sorry I can't help with the second question though, I don't know much about intel turbo mem.

 

The link for clean install guide is in my sig.

As far as Turbo memory concerns. You have the option of installing the driver from Lenovo or the driver from Intel. I'm using the 64-bit driver from Lenovo. I'm not having any problems. There is a 64-bit driver from Intel. Even though it looks like I newer date it will tell you that the current (Lenovo) driver is newer if you try to install it.

I am using the chipset driver from Intel. I believe it is newer.

 

I have used the intel turbo memory driver that was the most recent as of about three weeks ago. It was a catastrophe - BSODs all sorts of torture.

Dunno about the chipset driver. Sounds interesting.

 

Was that "catastrophe" after a clean install. Also, how can you be certain it was the turbo memory driver and not something else?

 

Yes it was after a clean install of retail Vista 64 bit Ultimate. There is no way to install 64 bit Vista Ultimate except clean.

And the first driver I used for the turbo memory was the intel one - which appears to be the same one that is there now. So that would necessarily be on a clean install.

And it was an instant BSOD festival.

I didn't suspect the hardware too much because I had been running the original OEM 32 bit Vista for a little while and it didn't have the turbo memory BSODs.

The current Lenovo turbo memory/storage matrix drivers fixed the BSODs completely. There were two more after installing it, but none after that. An explanation consistent with the experience I had was that the ReadyBoost ended up with a corrupted image on the turbo memory and eventually this prevented bootup after the BSOD. Once the correct drivers were all lined up again, there were two more BSODs right away; I think it takes two reboots for Vista to fully turn on Readyboost so that might be why there were two "leftover" BSODs.

It's not clear that it's entirely better, because I have the freeze thing that other people report but that doesn't seem to be turbo memory related. I am beginning to suspect that the freezes only happen on battery, but since I run on battery a lot I haven't got a lot of data on AC yet.

 

Thanks for all the info I was also getting the bsod and had no idea why

 

just to put my point in, my 1st T61 that arrived last week was DOA - the TrackPad and TrackPoint didnt work.... at all, got the RMA back the same day ( www.laptopsdirect.co.uk) and got my replacement earlier this week, so far everything has been ok!

 

The X3100 works very well - great battery life and good performance in all respects.

However, I'm surprised you ordered the turbo memory after all the negative press. Some have it working, but to me it doesn't seem worth the trouble. It seems like the entire architecture is a little flawed with its 1G max swap space. You can always pop out the card and sell it on ebay to someone else who reeeeeally wants it!

 

Yeah - I actually ordered the machine and then realized the TurboMemory seems to be causing some issues... Oops! :confused2: But I'm keeping my hopes up that the benefits will outweigh the risks associated with it!

 

You're funny, man! :twitcy:
Integrated what??? :laugh:

But seriously, there is nothing to laugh about the Intel graphics chip.
Discrete makes sense only for gamers and some serious power users, running CAD etc.
For the rest of us integrated is the way to go.

 

Thanks for the props unhooked! I'll admit, this is my first notebook purchase. Until now, I've been desktops all the way & building my own. So I'm used to focusing on performance and oompf - not battery life!

 

My T61 was my first as well. I think you're going to like your machine, especially since you're willing to take the extra step of reinstalling the OS on it yourself. It runs Vista without even breaking a sweat, even with all the goodies enabled (Actually, I turned off most of the goodies later because some of them just get in the way, like Sidebar...)

 

I have not had any trouble with turbo memory whatsoever. Granted, I don't think it has given me much if any of a performance boost, but I hope that a future driver, BIOS, or Service Pack will improve it's performance. In the meanwhile, it's not hurting anything and it was cheap.

I mean, it was a dirt cheap upgrade that has potential, if it cost a couple hundred dollars I would be upset.